While the time trial was the first test in the GC battle and began the first ranking amongst the rivals, it will be the final three stages that will determine the overall winner of the eight-day tour.

“The most important thing is I feel good because in the last years, I don’t know why, I have not felt good in this time trial. I have always lost time,” said Contador. “I am really happy with my feeling because I felt I had power in the climbs today. But with these roads and all the flats it suited riders like Tony Martin. But I finished 7th, I still feel fresh, and this is important.”

“The mountains arrive after tomorrow, and it will be good for the work for the Tour de France,” added Contador. “I will go into the last days calm and not put a big responsibility on my my team; [my focus is] only do a good work for July. I expected to lose some time today; Porte and Froome have raced more and have arrived here in better form.”

“For me, some moments were hard because we had changed some things on the bike, but this is why we are here: to try different things and work on the position,” answered Contador when asked about his back and forth movements on his saddle during the race. “We tried different materials, Trek is always working very well with this, and we made changes in the last moment, and today it felt a little strange, but we still have three weeks before the Tour.”